Improvement in street-sweepers



ZvSheets-*Sheetl RQ GREENE..- ST'REET-SWEEPER. No.175,623. Patented Apr`125,1876.

i Wlfl-VESEES. Irv/Ervin?- N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITMOGHAFNEli-WASHINGTON. D C- UNTEE A'IEs FFICQ ROBERT GREENE', OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STREETSWEEPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,623, dated April 25, 1876; application filed March 28, 1876.

' To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT GREENE, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massacl1usetts,have invented an Improved Street-Sweeper, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to improvements in machines for sweeping streets, wherein is em- `ployed a rotating brush-roller placed diagonally to the direct-ion in which the machine is drawn or moved; and the invention consists in a combination of devices whereby the operator or` driver sitting in his seat can readily lift the brush-roller, and also by which the brush-cylinder may be quickly leveled with relation to the road-bed.

Figure 1 represents a top View of one of my improved machines with the seat shown in dotted lines, and in such figure the shafts and gearing under the frame-work are also shown in dotted lines. v Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of Fig. l.

The frame a will preferably be made of metal, and the shafts b will be securely attached thereto lo'y suitable loops, and on the shafts and frame isA placed a` frame, c. The

axle 0l, is sustained by and moves in bearings or boxes secured at each end of the frame c, by bolts e, and the shaft has fixed to it, outside the ends of the frame, ratchets f, that are engaged by pawls on the wheels h, the pawls being provided with springs to keep them in engagement with the ratchet-teeth so that when the sweeper is drawn forward the pawls, engage the ratchets and turn the shaft d, provided with a pinion, i, that engages a pinion, j, on a shaft, 7c, supported by frame a, and provided with a chain or sprocket wheel, Z, over which passes a chain, m, the latter extending also over a sprocket or chain Wheel, n, on the end of the shaft of the brush or roller r, such roller being supported in boxes at the ends of arms o p. The arm o is shown as made of two pieces of iron, slotted toreceive a bolt, q, by which to permit the arm to be lengthened or adjusted to keep the chain or beltl m taut, and the upper end of the arm is pivoted on the end of shaft k. The arm p is connected at its other end with axle or shaft d, and arms o p are free to turn about their supporting-shafts lr, d, to

raise or lower the brush-cylinder r. This brush is-a cylinderA provided with holes7 in which are placed bunches, preferably of rattan, (about eleven inches in length,) a very durable substance, and'one that may be used in Wet as well as dry weather, orfwith dust or mud, and yet work effectually. suitable apron or fender, s, extends across the machine to stop the dirt thrown off and upward by the brush in its rapid rotation. Ou the frame and supported in bearings t is a rock-shaft, u, provided with an arm, c, connected by a strap or chain, 1, with a windlass, w, steadied at the top by a brace, y, and provided With a crank, fr, and a ratchet, z. The strap on its Way to the windlass passes under a sheave, a', and by the crank the windlass may be turned to rock the shaft, and a pawl, b', on the plate c, within easy reach of the foot of the driver, who sits on the seat c', may be used to hold or release the windlass at pleasure. On this shaft u are arms d connected by adj usting-links c f with arms of brushroller adj usting rock-shafts g h', provided with other arms i j that support suitable chains 2 3, connected with the arms o p, and as the rock-shaft u is moved it also moves the rock-shafts g h', and they move the arms supporting the brush-cylinder to lower or raise it to the proper working position with reference to the street, or lift it entirely from the street, as may be desired.

It is necessary to properly sweep a street that the face ofthe brush-cylinder be placed or held and be turned or revolved with its axis in a plane parallel with the surface of the street being swept, and on some streets one end of the brush-cylinder will be the highest,

vand on other streets, or perhaps on the same street, but in going'in the opposite direction, it is necessary to have the other end of the brush the highest.

To adjust the brush parallel withthe street, and to do it quickly, I place on the links e f', two nuts, 4 5, one at each side of a pivoted hub on the arms of the shafts y lo', and by moving these nuts on the screw-threads cut on the links, I can change the position of the rock shafts u g h with reference to each other to have either end of the brush-roller lifted more or less.

My machine is very light as compared with most street-sweeping machines, can be easilyv A metallic or managed by a single horse and one man, and the driver' from his sent on Vthe sweeper can easily make lall his adjustments and lift or lower the brush-cylinder out of or into working position.

The bur o might be in one piece and have other means provided by which to tighten the l the driving-belt. v

An ordinary friction-clutch might be used instead of the ratchet.

I claim- 1. The brnslrroller and its pivoted supporting-arms, in combination with the connected rock-shafts u g h', to raise and lower the brush-cylinder, substantially as described. 

